Photo of Paul Taylor by Sheryl Aronson

Paul Taylor: And Now This

BY SHERYL ARONSON

Since the mid-’90s, saxophonist Paul Taylor has been firing up stages with his passionate and energetic performances. His first album, On the Horn, debuted in 1995, and he has released twelve albums throughout his 25-year-plus career. Constantly stretching his creative horizons, Taylor’s eclectic styling of music reaches across the genres of urban jazz, smooth jazz, funk, and electronic/pop.

With his newest album, And Now This, created via the exchange of digital files during the Pandemic, Paul Taylor and his collaborator, producer, and co-writer, Dino Esposito, have once again hit the charts with #1 songs.

A graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas – Division of Jazz and Commerical Music, Taylor decided to make Las Vegas his home after graduation. He has toured extensively with top artists such as Keiko Matsui, The Rippingtons, Peter White and Euge Groove, Michael Lington, Marion Meadows, Warren Hill, and many more. He also tours as a solo act.

Paul Taylor’s 12th CD, And Now This

While in Las Vegas, I sat with Paul Taylor, a recording artist and one of contemporary jazz’s top performers as a sax player, and asked him about his new album, released in November 2021.

Sheryl Aronson: What’s the album’s title?

Paul Taylor: My 12th CD is called And Now This. I made the album remotely during the pandemic with my producer Dino Esposito.

Sheryl Aronson: You have quite a history with him—he’s been your producer and collaborator for almost your entire recording career.

Paul Taylor: I met Dino when I was just out of college. Dino was a successful pop artist in the late 80s and had a top-five single called “I Like It.” We met through a mutual friend, and he came to see my band play a few times. We clicked and kept in touch over the years. I knew I would have him produce /co-write my albums when I made it on the contemporary jazz scene. In the late 90s, we began collaborating, and Dino has been working with me since then.

Sheryl Aronson: What is the meaning behind the title of your new album, And Now This?

Paul Taylor: There are a few meanings: it’s been a big break since my last album came out in 2016, and I wanted a strong title; instead of calling it one of the title tracks’ names, l wanted something that sounded ambiguous and esoteric. I’ve been moving forward in my personal and creative life, and as we’re coming out of this pandemic, I feel I’m kicking it into high gear! Then I had an epiphany in Macy’s one day. My girlfriend and I were shopping back in November, and we saw a clothesline called And Now This, and it hit me… that’s what I’m naming my album!

Sheryl Aronson: I love the title, and you look great on the album cover. Your album is doing well, and some of your songs are charting on Billboard.

Paul Taylor: The album was released on November 5th, 2021. My first radio single, “Straight to the Point,” reached #1 Most added on Billboard’s Radio Chart. I was also excited to do a re-imagining of “Ride It,” which was a big hit done by DJ Regard (2019 hit remix of Jay Sean’s 2008 #1UK R&B hit). I enlisted Grammy-winning artist Jamie Jones to sing on “Ride It.” The second single, “Friday @ 5,” has done well and hit #1 on Billboard.

Sheryl Aronson: You’ve been in the music industry for 20-plus years. How did you begin playing the sax?

Paul Taylor: I grew up in Colorado, and when I was seven years old, my father asked both my brother and me if we wanted to play an instrument. We both said yes. I played throughout junior high and high school and participated in stage band, and took private lessons.

Sheryl Aronson: Who were some of your musical influences?

Paul Taylor: Grover Washington, Jr., David Sanborn, Earth Wind & Fire, Brecker Brothers, Patrice Rushen, and Ramsey Lewis. I formed a band in high school, and we played funk, jazz, and Top 40 music. We played house parties and backyard parties and then worked our way up to nightclubs. I knew I wanted to be a professional musician and pursued that goal. When it was time to go to college, I applied to Berklee College of Music, Eastman, Julliard, and UNLV.

Sheryl Aronson: You chose UNLV and are a graduate of their Division of Jazz and Commercial Music.

Paul Taylor: I received a full-ride scholarship. UNLV has a great music program, and I played in their jazz band. I went there from ‘78 to ‘82. Our Jazz band went to Poland, South America, and Spain every other year and went on major trips overseas.

Sheryl Aronson: Your background in performance and music theory has certainly contributed to a successful career. How did you transition from student to professional musician in Las Vegas?

Paul Taylor: I played in lounges and clubs around town for about 15 years. There were lean periods and some good periods, but I always worked on my music. I just never gave up. My big break came when I played on one of Dino Esposito’s sessions at Jeff Lorber’s home studio. A few years later, in 1994, Jeff remembered me and asked me to play with him at the Catalina Island Jazz Festival. Keiko Matsui and her producer/husband Kazu liked my performance and offered me an audition with their band. I was hired and toured with the Matsui’s for two years (appearing on Sapphire and Dream Walk). Kazu Matsui eventually produced my debut album, On the Horn, which gave me the #1 radio hit “Till We Meet Again.”

My exposure to Keiko’s band launched my career in the smooth jazz genre. I played with the Rippingtons for a short while from 1999 to 2000. In 2001, I signed with Peak Records, debuting my album Hypnotic, and in 2004, “Steppin’ Out,” the title track from my 2003 Top Ten Billboard Contemporary Jazz album, became Radio & Records’ third biggest genre airplay cut of the year.

Sheryl Aronson: Let’s move forward and talk about what you’ve been doing recently. You’ve toured with Sax to the Max and also toured solo. How did Sax to Max get together?

Paul Taylor: Michael Lington, Vincent Ingala, and I formed a supergroup of sax players and packaged ourselves for playing at festivals and concert venues. We created a cool intro and finale that energized the audience. Each of us took turns performing our songs and backing each other up. Our first performance was Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Florida.

Sheryl Aronson: Tell me what types of saxophones you play.

Paul Taylor: I play soprano, alto, and tenor when recording, but my main two are soprano and alto.

Sheryl Aronson: Paul, what does playing music mean to you?

Paul Taylor: It’s the best feeling in the world for me to perform. When I’m playing my music on stage for people who have taken time out of their schedules to see me, I want to give them everything. I’m operating on all cylinders, everything is clicking, and I have another chance to win them over. I want my audience to feel happy and feel my energy and spirit.